If you were to pay 250 for a 70.3 or 700 for an IM what would you want in return? (Page 2)

Well I have yet to do a $700 IM (Nov will be my first) but I think they should have a first timer package price with all the goodies, and than a returing IMer price which would not include as much maybe just a medal at a cheaper cost.

but they do it for Epic Dartmouth.  Granted they don't have 2000+ racers.

As for the idea of being able/allowed to change your own distance mid-race, depending on how you feel, I'm opposed to it.  I hate to be hard-line, but bad things happening during a race and even before the race are part of the multisport world.  Yes, to have DNS next to your name is tough to deal with.  Yes, to have DNF next to your name is tough to deal with.  But they go with the territory of doing endurance events, and one of the best "skills" a person can have is the one that allows them to bail on a race -- either before or during -- when they feel it is not safe to continue on the planned course.

I could also go off on a tangent here about so many people nowadays not respecting the bigger distances and, quite unprepared, signing up for an iron or a half-iron ---- really just for a finisher medal and the bragging rights.  I never want to see people injured or hugely disappointed......but for some who feel that they are ready for an iron after six months of tri training and one sprint, well, they maybe reap just what they sow if they end up being DNS or DNF or finishing about two minutes before cutoff, hobbling viciously as they do so.   But i won't go on that tangent!

Finally, no finish, no medal.  These aren't gold stars for kindergarten kids, right?  And in races in which I have DNFed, I would NEVER wear the t-shirt or anything associated with that race.  Gotta earn it to wear it!

Apropos comments here about nudity and scantiness........

IMLP '04 "featured" at about mile 52 of the bike (halfway up the climb back to LP from Wilmington), three young women in a turn-out to the right, and they were associated with Final Kick Sports in VA --- and they were mooning the riders as we passed.  The slogan  for Final Kick is "Rock On!", so the leftmost mooner had a "R" and "O" on her buttocks, center mooner had the "C" and "K" on hers, and the rightward mooner had "O" and "N!".

Needless to say, i spent the next 56 miles wondering (hoping?!?!?)  if they would still be there when I was on my second loop, but alas and woe, they were gone.  Maybe arrested, but at least not there to take my mind off the demands of the task at hand.   So, i had to navigate the Three Bears on the second loop using just my own inner inspriation, as opposed to the boost they provided on the first loop.  So sad!